• Excited for my trip to Ontario! #

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How to clean your engagement & wedding rings:

Tools
To properly clean diamonds & engagement rings the following tools are recommended:

* Shallow dish just deep enough to cover the jewelry.
* Soft bristle brush such as a mild toothbrush.
* Mild detergent or recommended jewelry cleaning solution.
* Rubber gloves for sensitive skin.
* Lint-free cloth similar to one used for cleaning a camera lens or glasses.
* Source of running water or fresh dish of clean water for rinsing.

Cleaning
When cleaning diamonds, the key to a gorgeous result is to be sure to remove dirt and debris from every nook and cranny of the ring. Filigree, Celtic, and other elaborate pieces require extra care, while simple solitaires may be cleaned more quickly and easily. The basic steps for cleaning diamond jewelry are:

* Determine whether or not the jewelry can be cleaned at home. If you are unsure of the type of metal, accent stones, or security of the setting, it is best to leave cleaning to a professional. Furthermore, antique and heirloom rings are more delicate and may need professional attention.
Always be cautious around open drains.
* Set up a cleaning space. A towel helps protect surfaces from cleaning chemicals and be sure to choose a location with adequate lighting to see crevices as well as a location protected from loss (away from sink drains, etc.).
* Remove hairs or other fibers stuck in the prongs or setting. Tweezers can help reach tight areas.
* Presoak or rinse the jewelry to remove loose dirt. If rinsing under running water, grip the jewelry firmly or use a sieve deep enough to contain it without risk of loss.
* Dip ring in cleaning solution (diluted ammonia with three parts water, a similar solution with mild clean-rinsing detergent, or professional cleaner). Soak if desired.
* Gently scrub diamond with soft-bristle brush. Change angles frequently to work into crevices but keep a firm grip on the jewelry.
* Rinse jewelry carefully. Use running water or fresh water dish and change angles to remove all cleaning solution.
* Dry ring with clean lint-free cloth. Use cloth to polish ring for maximum sparkle and shine.

Don’ts About How to Clean Diamonds

Regardless of how dirty a diamond is, do not…

* Use pins, needles, or other sharp objects to clean crevices. This will scratch the stone or surrounding metal.
* Use bleach or other harsh, abrasive chemicals. Many such chemicals will erode or discolor metal.
* Remove the diamond from the jewelry for cleaning. Any modification to the jewelry should be attempted only by a qualified professional.

Thanks Lovetoknow!

Keep Shining!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting

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I am often asked which flavours of cake are available. Here is the answer:

Cake Flavours:

* Chocolate
* Vanilla – a moist yellow cake
* Marble – Vanilla and Chocolate swirled throughout
* White Bridal Cake
* Lemon
* Yellow or Lemon Poppyseed
* Raspberry Ripple – Vanilla cake with raspberry flavour baked into it.
* Orange
* Fruit Cake – A traditional English favourite.

Various Buttercreams:

* White Callebaut Chocolate
* Dark Callebaut Chocolate
* Vanilla
* Mocha
* Orange
* Coconut
* Hazelnut

Preserves:

* Raspberry
* Strawberry
* Wildberry
* Apricot

Other Fillings:

* Lemon Curd
* Cream Cheese

Flavours courtesy of Cake Creations – Thanks Barb!

Thanks for reading!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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• Check this video out — JK wedding entrance dance dancing down the aisle Forever http://bit.ly/GS9t5 #

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I thought that this was an amazing, unique wedding entrance! I wonder which of my brides will love it and ask me to choreograph an entrance like this for them? As a dancer and figure skater of 15 years it wouldn’t be difficult! Just ask!

Thanks for watching!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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• I uploaded a YouTube video — Banff Wedding Videos by Silver Screen Wedding Films http://bit.ly/3kNh1 #
• I uploaded a YouTube video — The Natural Bridge at Emerald Lake Lodge http://bit.ly/u5PDm #

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• I uploaded a YouTube video — Murrieta's Bar & Grill http://bit.ly/4mutnX #
• How to Get the Perfect Wedding Planner http://tinyurl.com/mlkks2 #

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Created by the wonderful Les of Silver Screen Wedding Films: http://www.banffweddingvideos.com/

Thanks for watching!!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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This weekend I had one of my funnest couples of the year. Melissa & James, married July 18th 2009 at Two Jack Lake celebrated their reception at Banff Park Lodge. It is at Banff Park Lodge where the CUPCAKE FOOD FIGHT took place!! What says “I Love You” more than a cup cake to the face?! Watch the video here:

Want more? We LOVE FACEBOOK! so check out the album here.

Love sometimes gets messy!

Thanks for following!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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I am a stickler for professionalism. I want words spelled correctly. I want grammar to be correct, and I want consistency throughout a document (Lord, I hope everything’s ok with this one!). When it comes to vendors, I keep a checklist handy with all their names on it and space for notes where I can evaluate their performance. It might seem time consuming, but it actually saves me a lot of time in the long run. When I know “Joe” didn’t do what he promised in a timely fashion, or in the alternative, did a stellar job all the way through, I make note of it. Just like evaluating your employees, there is something innately positive in evaluating outside service providers. You can also think of this as a way to help determine if your vendor is invested in your business relationship above and beyond the “terms” of any agreement, written or otherwise, and whether they are making the most of their opportunity to work with you.

1. Appointments Honored. This should go with out saying. We are all busy and have 1,001 things going on in our lives. If you can’t rely on your vendor to be there for an appointment that you made and confirmed, then you have to move on. Once or twice I can forgive, begrudgingly, however, any more than that, and my three strikes rule comes in to play. A missed appointment costs you time, which translates into money. You bill for your time one way or another, right? By the vendor not coming through for your meeting, you potentially missed out on income that you could have been making. You might say, “Well, I didn’t have anything lined up anyway,” but being a small business owner, we are always out there trying to make money – meeting people, creating proposals, working on our annual forecasts, setting goals (you are doing all of that aren’t you? See, that’s why you can’t afford to have flaky people around!)

2. Speed and Quality of Service. I am not a diva by any means. Well, okay, maybe a little bit, but when I am, I really don’t like myself for it. It’s much better to be professional, calm and cool under pressure. But I when I am working with a party rental agency or a staffing company, I want to know that my calls, emails, and faxes are dealt with promptly. My representative should know what they are talking about, and correctly fill out my order paperwork the first time around, legibly and accurately. I don’t want to have to take the time to start correcting their work and worry about mistakes that will end up costing me down the road. What if the person on the other end of the phone forgets to get a permit when they promised to do so? Your entire event can be shut down as a result.

3. Timely Deliveries. Bottom line, are my goods being delivered to the correct place at the appointed time? Timelines (within reason) must be kept to! If someone is running late, they need to call you. Make sure all of your vendors (and their drivers!) have the name and cell phone number of the person on site designated to receive the delivery. This is beyond imperative. I pad the timeline so we can set up everything without having to rush. But you know as well as I do that nothing ever goes as planned, so I stay on top of my vendors and start checking in with them once Cinderella is more than 10 minutes late. Can you imagine a party with no place to sit and no ice for the drinks? Having these things delivered 15 minutes before or after a party is set to begin is a sure fire way to lose a client or at the very least, bust a valve. Don’t work with people who are too loosey goosey with the time.

4. Contract Terms Adhered To. Seems simple enough. The contract calls for 100 chairs at $4.00 per chair. I don’t want to see a final bill that says 100 chairs at $4.25 per chair after the event is over. An agreement is an agreement (by the way, this goes for you too. You must honor your word. Mistakes happen so pony up and pay for them if you or your staff are the cause). You can’t pass on these costs to your client once all is signed off at a certain price. Because I know my vendors, I don’t have to go over the terms again and again, but believe me, when I first started out with them, I might have sounded like a broken record and they were perhaps, a bit annoyed with me, but I was prepared to pay that price. Once you start sending more business your vendor’s way, they should be more than happy to review anything you want as long as you communicate clearly, professionally and within a timely manner.

5. Crunch Mode Assistance. Every so often an emergency will come up that you don’t expect. (Actually, do you ever expect an emergency? I guess I kind of always expect emergencies, I just don’t know which ones are going to show up!) It is part of life and it is certainly part of the party planning experience. I look at my vendor relationships as partnerships. I would hope that they would be able to react to my needs when I call them. I certainly understand that not everything is possible and educating myself about their segment of the business really makes a big difference in reducing errors. If you’re not sure how far ahead your caterer needs the food count, your rental company needs to be advised of changes or your florist needs a deposit, ASK! Decide that you’re going to be in this business for the long hall and work with your vendors so that they love hearing from you.

6. That Little Bit More Than Necessary. This follows up on #5. Beyond “crunch mode assistance,” do my vendors do other things for me that make it easier for my company to conduct business? Do they call me with discounts and/or specials? Do they let me know when new products come in that are fresh and exciting or that they think my clientele would like? Will they hold the showroom open a bit later than normal so I can come by after my last appointment if I’m in a scramble to pull off a miracle? Have they referred my business? No company has to do these things, however, it would be very smart of them to do this. My vendors let me know that I am important to their business. They go above and beyond what I expect, and I truly appreciate it. Remember this is a two way relationship. If you make money, then they make money since you will be using them more. They rely on you as much as you do on them. Be grateful to them, show your appreciation (never underestimate the value of a personal note to say thank you. This really can’t happen enough.)

Leading Entertainment Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality, Coach, Author and Sought After Speaker, Marley Majcher is CEO of The Party Goddess! and publisher of the ezine, “How To Be A Party Goddess”. If you are ready to take your career or business to the next level, make more money and just be happier with your work life, then get your free tips on how to be a rockin’ event planner at www.howtobeapartygoddess.com

Thanks for reading!!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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